Should baby Gammy have been born? Australians who raised $220,000 for the Thai-born Down syndrome baby’s medical costs think so.

It has been heartening to see the outpouring of compassion for him.

But the sad fact is not enough of us are willing to do what is needed to create the political environment in which public policy can be created that will protect such babies.

In Australia, if pre-natal testing reveals Down syndrome, the baby’s life is routinely ended through abortion.

Reflecting society, a majority of Australian parliamentarians long ago abandoned the idea that a Down syndrome baby was worth saving.

Our collective lack of compassion for the baby Gammys’ of the world was demonstrated during Senate hearings into the Medicare funding of abortion in 2008.

The Parliamentary Group on Population and Development told the Senate that Medicare funding of abortion was necessary because disabled babies might be born and become a drain on the disability services budget.

The submission was a word-for-word cut and paste of the submission of the radical pro-abortion group, the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance.

In a speech to parliament last week, Western Australian MP Nick Goiran exposed the realities of abortion practices in the state, particularly in cases where the condition of the unborn child is clearly compatible with life.

As part of a two year investigation into the practice, Mr Goiran found that 52 (10 per cent) of the 474 post 20-week abortions performed since November 2001 had happened because the unborn child had Spina Bifida, and 35 (seven per cent) was due to Down Syndrome.

Other conditions that we also given in justification of the abortion were four cases of skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism), a hand defect, an upper limb abnormality and one case of 47XYY (minor chromosomal disorder).

In his speech, Mr Goiran called on members of parliament to reform abortion laws, saying:

"Although I do not support post-20 week abortions as a matter of principle grounded on the right to life, at the very least I am asking all members to have the courage to reform this area urgently so that we cease this grotesque discrimination against people with disabilities. We cannot pretend to be a civilised society if we stand by and allow terminations of pregnancies for Down syndrome, which I have described publicly as people who happen to be happier than I am; or for people with spina bifida whose backs are less straight than mine; or for people with dwarfism who happen to be shorter than I am; or possibly, worst of all, those with limb abnormalities, which to this day I still cannot believe and reconcile has occurred."

Abortion has been legal in Western Australia since May 1998 and it’s estimated 134,000 unborn children have died in the 16 years since it became legal. More than 600 of these babies have been killed after 20 weeks gestation solely because of a disability such as Down Syndrome, spina bifida or dwarfism.

In WA, abortion after 20 weeks is allowed if two medical practitioners have agreed that the mother, or the unborn child, has a severe medical condition that in their professional opinion justifies the procedure.

The statistics outlined above clearly show a mis-use of the legislation as the justifications fall short of the term "severe medical condition”.

Mr Goiran is urging Western Australians to write to WA's Minister for Health Dr Kim Hames asking for a bill to prohibit post 20-week abortions for conditions compatible with life. You can email him at kim.hames@mp.wa.gov.au or for more contact details, follow this link.

Mr Goiran's speech to the Legislative Council can be viewed here. His speech begins on page 3836 and is continued after an interruption on page 3850.

Earlier this month, around 700 people participated in this year's Walk and Rally for Life in Perth, calling for an end to abortion in the state. The organiser collected over 500 signatures on an open letter to Premier Colin Barnett calling for greater protection for the unborn in WA. Follow this link for more information on the event.

The Western Australia Director Rhys Vallance’s letter to supporters in the state is now available online.

Recently, God graciously provided us with a new office space; I am now working out of the Youth For Christ (YFC) office in Welshpool. This has been a real joy as I worked at YFC prior to my role at the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL). It's been a blessing reconnecting with people who mentored me in my walk with God and in my professional development. Please keep this new arrangement in your prayers that it may be a mutual blessing to ACL and YFC.

With the 7th September federal election day fast approaching, it is important for the Christian constituency to be well informed of party positions on issues which most concern them.

If you are in Western Australia, we encourage you to come along with some questions for the panelists. Some issues being explored on the night include: abortion, marriage, human trafficking, and being a Christian in the marketplace.

The Australian Family Association (AFA) will be holding events in New South Wales and Western Australia to celebrate National Marriage Day, and you are invited to attend.

National Marriage Day is a chance to celebrate the special union of marriage, and to recognise the need of children to both a mother and a father.

AFA is a not-for-profit, voluntary, and non-party political organisation formed to be provide a forum and a vehicle for those individuals and organisations in the community concerned with the strengthening and support of the family unit. AFA was also one of the major sponsors of this year's World Congress of Families (WCF) event in Sydney. Read the declaration made by the WCF 2013 here.

We encourage you to get behind National Marriage Day by attending an AFA event or by helping to organise an event in your own state. Find out more about how you can do this by visiting the AFA website.

New South Wales - Penrith

Tuesday 11th August 2013

A picnic at Tench Reserve, Penrith

Time: 12pm

Bring a plate to share

Western Australia - Perth (event sponsored by the AFA and Knights of the Southern Cross)

In the last week, the ACL has been quoted in the media on issues such as Australia's humanitarian intake, trading days of alcohol retailers in WA, and Kevin Rudd's stance on marriage. See below for links to mentions in the media.

The Western Australia Director Rhys Vallance’s letter to supporters in the state is now available online.

As the first half of the year draws to a close, new projects are emerging for ACL in Western Australia, as we work towards seeing Christian principles and ethics influencing and affecting the way we are governed.

It is important now more than ever that Christians maintain an active voice in politics, as the nation deals with questions of social reform.